Erik Karlsson’s Contract

While everyone is anxiously awaiting for word as to whether Daniel Alfredsson will return for another year, the other storyline surrounding the Ottawa Senators’ offseason is the signing of restricted free-agent Erik Karlsson. Karlsson’s entry level contract expired at the end of 2011-12; a contract that paid him $875,000, plus $425,000 in bonuses, for a cap hit of $1, 300,000. The fact that Karlsson put up record-setting numbers during an unexpectedly successful season should put his demands in the $6.5-7.5 million dollar range, but neither side seems particularly worried.